Next Citrus Bowl Set For Jan. 2, 2006

THE MORNING BUZZ

April 13, 2005

Florida Citrus Sports has yet to sit down with ABC about terms for renewing a contract for the Capital Bowl in 2007 and beyond, but the two have agreed on a date for the 2006 game -- Monday, Jan. 2. It will mark the fifth time -- and the first time since 1995 -- that the traditional New Year's Day game will kick off after Jan. 1. The game matches the Big Ten runner-up or co-champ against the Southeastern Conference's runner-up. FCS, ABC and the two conferences expect this summer to negotiate another long-term deal to start with the Jan. 1, 2007 game.

MORE COLLEGE FOOTBALL: UCF sophomore quarterback Kyle Israel will be out six to seven weeks with a stress fracture in his right leg, Coach George O'Leary announced. Israel was injured in Saturday's scrimmage when he accidentally was rolled into by another player and leg-whipped, the school said. "It's a crack in the bone,'' O'Leary said. . . . Two Tennessee freshmen -- Jerod Mayo and Robert Ayers -- have been charged with aggravated assault stemming from several fights that broke out between players and fraternity members at a party on campus last month. Details on who they are accused of assaulting were not available.

COLLEGE ATHLETICS: BOHN IS COLORADO AD

San Diego State Athletic Director Mike Bohn has agreed to take the same post within Colorado's troubled department and will be introduced as the replacement for Dick Tharp today, the school announced. Bohn will have to repair the damage done by scandals within the football program that contributed to the departure of Tharp, Chancellor Richard Byyny and university President Betsy Hoffman.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL: HODGE CHOOSES UF

Florida Air Academy guard Walter Hodge, among the top unsigned basketball prospects in Florida, will sign today with the University of Florida, FAA Athletic Director Jim O'Malley said. Hodge, the Class 3A state player of the year and final four MVP, averaged 25.4 points, 5.4 steals and 4.2 assists for the season for a 32-0 Falcons team. UF is also in the running for Florida Mr. Basketball award winner Keith Brumbaugh. The DeLand senior has not committed to a college while attempting to gauge his chances of going in the NBA draft. Brumbaugh's availability to UF now appears to depend on a decision by Gators junior Anthony Roberson, who is also yet to decide whether or not to enter the NBA draft. If Hodge signs and Roberson stays in Gainesville, it would take UF to the cap of 13 scholarship players.

MORE COLLEGE BASKETBALL: Pittsburgh point guard Carl Krauser, the team's top scorer as a junior last season, is making himself available for the June 28 NBA draft but will not hire an agent in case he changes his mind and returns to school. . . . North Carolina Charis Prep standout Jimmy Graham, a 6-8, 255-pound forward, will sign a letter of intent with the University of Miami today, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reporter. . . . Valparaiso center Kenny Harris collapsed during a workout in the athletic center's weight room Monday and was hospitalized in critical condition. The family has asked that no other information be released. . . . Rob Jeter returned to Wisconsin-Milwaukee as coach. He succeeds Bruce Pearl, who took over at Tennessee. . . . Georgia Tech guard Zam Fredrick will transfer after getting little playing time as a freshman. . . . Coach Dave Odom said he intends to finish his career at South Carolina.

NFL: MOSS, TAYLOR NOT AT 'SKINS WORKOUTS

Santana Moss and Sean Taylor are skipping the Washington Redskins' spring workouts because they want new contracts. "The only thing I would say to anybody: If you miss the offseason work, I don't think that's good for your career," Coach Joe Gibbs said. "You can't make it mandatory, but it is a critical time for us."

MORE FOOTBALL: Free-agent offensive tackles Jeff Hatch and Matt Martin have signed contracts with the NFL's Tampa Bay Buccaneers. . . . The NFL and its players have agreed to follow stricter standards for testosterone levels for the start of next season, using guidelines set by the Olympics. The upgrade, which required the approval of the NFL Players Association, had been expected. . . . The Empire State Development Corp. board OK'd plans for a 75,000-seat New York Jets stadium on Manhattan's far west side. . . . The Seattle Seahawks agreed to terms with free-agent linebacker Jamie Sharper. Details were not revealed. . . . The Pittsburgh Steelers signed free-agent defensive end Brett Keisel to a one-year, $656,000 contract. . . . The coroner has to wait for test results on the brain tissue of New York Dragons lineman Al Lucas of the Arena Football League before determining why he died during play last weekend, a coroner's office spokesman said.

BOXING: TYSON, MCBRIDE TO BATTLE

Mike Tyson (50-5-2, 44 knockouts) will fight journeyman Kevin McBride (32-4-1, 27 KOs) on June 11 at the MCI Center in Washington, D.C., the former heavyweight champion announced. The bout will be Tyson's first in nearly a year.